The Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

Unit 5 Chapter 11

Lesson 2

Vocabulary

• Justinian I - Emperor of Byzantine Empire 527-565 CE

• Cathedral - Large important Christian church

• Hagia Sophia- Cathedral in Constantinople

• Constantinople -Capital of Byzantine Empire

• Theodora- Empress of Byzantine Empire

• Justinian Code- Set of Laws

• Icon- Religious picture of Jesus and saints

Constantinople• Formerly Byzantium• named after Constantine• Capitol of Byzantine Empire

• rebuilt by Emperor Justinian I after destroyed in riots• Hagia Sophia means Church of Holy Wisdom of God in Greek

Hagia = Holy Sophia = Wisdom

• Located in Constantinople• Largest Cathedral in world for nearly 1,000 years

Painting depicting

Construction of Hagia Sophia

during reign of Justinian

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia then

Hagia Sepia now

Hagia Sophia became an Islamic Mosque, today it is Museum

Interior of Hagia Sophia by John Singer Sargent1891 CE

Jesus Mosaic, one of many that have been uncovered in modern times

All Byzantine Cathedrals

were decorated in great detail

527 CE Justinian I ascended to the Byzantine throne

• Wanted to restore the Roman Empire• Wanted to govern it as a whole• Paid Persian Kings to stop threatening the far western

part of Asia – • Far Eastern Part of Byzantine Empire

• Strong army conquered• Many lands lost by Rome• Mediterranean Islands• N. Africa - Vandals• Italy - Ostrogoths• Spain - Visigoths

Coin commemorating Justinian's re-conquests of Africa, c. 535

The Byzantine Empire of Justinian’s Reign

Purple = size of Empire when Justinian came to powerOrange = lands conquered by Justinian

Theodora & Justinian

• Was a commoner– A circus performer in the

Hippodrome – Dad was a bear trainer

• Most trusted advisor– Intelligent– political wisdom– Street smart

• Told Justinian to defend city against attack in 532 C.E.

• Government jobs based on ability not social class

Justinian Code

• Wanted to organize laws• Made empire operate smoothly• 10 men review 1,600 books of

Roman Law to create simpler laws

• Men created Justinian Code• 4,000 Laws in 4 books

• Many legal systems today based on code– One of the laws in Justinian Code

stated that a person was innocent until proven guilty

• Many laws reflect Theodora’s view of treating women more fairly

Mosaic of Justinian as law-giver from San Vitale of Ravenna Cathedral

Architecture very

importantto show power of

the Empire

New harbors

Aqueducts

Cisterns

Churches

Interior & Bell Tower at St. Vitale Ravenna

Valens Aqueduct in Constantinople

Byzantine Art

Pair of Jeweled bracelets 500-700CE

flask with the adoration of the Magi 500-550CE

Portrait bust of Woman with a scroll late 4th-early 5th Century

Two Panels of an Ivory Diptych Announcing the Consulship of Justinian, 521CE

Fragment of a Floor Mosaic with a Personification of Ktisis, 500–550

Strong Ties between Church & Emperor Justinian I

• Byzantine Orthodox Church the Official Church

• Church controlled political and cultural life

• Justinian believed God chose him to run the Empire

• Justinian built the Hagia Sophia to cement relationship between Church and Emperor

Religious Icons

• Pictures or images of Jesus & Saints– 2 dimensional– Appear flat– Face front– Large eyes– Reverse viewpoint

• From God’s Perspective not viewer” Perspective

• God is looking out of picture at viewer

– Used as a form of prayer

• Use of Icons helped lead to schism between Byzantine Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church in1054Mary and Jesus Icon

Naturalistic vs. Iconic ArtSyric Bible illumination depicting Job vs. Icon of St.

Columba

End of the Empire• Byzantine Empire lasted 500 years• 1000 CE empire began to weaken• 1054 CE Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox

Church Schism (split)